Santa Came to Haiti!

Not only was I anticipating Roy's return visit, being with 26 people mostly under the age of 40, and awaiting a package from my family, I was waiting for Lauren Hayes(one of my best friends from college and roommates my senior year). She came just in time to be my Christmas present this year. Let me tell ya santa really provided. The best part was that I got to share my life here with her, which becomes increasingly hard to explain to people in words.
The best part was that I got to share my life here with her, which becomes increasingly hard to explain to people in words.

Of the 26 visitors, they came from four different universities. Eastern, Quincy, Northwestern, and Notre Dame. Eastern and Quincy has a developed Haiti Connection, Northwestern came a long to explore the possibilities of developing a relationship, and Roy's daughter came from Notre Dame.

We were in Gros Morne for a few days. We helped carry rocks to build a house, visited with people, played with kids, we went swimming (some of us, including myself jumped off a 30ft cliff) and spent  time with Haitians, enjoying their culture.

We then (all 29 of us) traveled for over 7 hours to another part of Haiti. We were the main attraction as we drove through towns. white people in the back of pickup trucks on top of our luggage.

For three days we were in a small town. Did a lot of hiking, did some work on some of the EIU projects, were present to the community, went to the market, had a small talent show,, sat in on a few meetings, played games with kids in the community, and continued to be present to each other and the Haitian culture.

Since I am EIU... It was also very cool to see what the group from my university has been doing for so many years! Like everyone in the group but Jen and Roy's daughter, I had never been to most of the places we visited after Gros Morne. Majority of the group, did not know me, and assumed I had been to Haiti, or the very least been involved in the Haiti Connection before making a year commitment... Their surprise and responses when I told them I was never involved in the Haiti connection, or have never traveled to Haiti, was humbling to me.  

Seeing one of my best friends, old friends and new friends leave was really difficult. I might have even shed a tear ... I think a lot of it was a lot of jealously. Knowing they were going home just in time for Christmas with their families made it really hard.

After the group left and as we were driving Jen and I decided we were going "home". We were excited to go back to the life and people we are familiar with, back to our own beds, and our community...

Heres what we did for Christmas:

                              On Christmas Eve, Jen and I made our debut in the choir we joined....

On Christmas day we didn't run to see if Santa came, wake up our parents, open presents, or get ready to go to see our families. We woke up like any other day. Jen and I enjoyed cornflakes and soy milk for breakfast together, which is always special..... We spent the rest of our day skyping our families, did some preparations for our meal, listened to christmas music and made some cakes.
We then went to a place here in town where people live that have no home, family, or both. We shared some cake, sodas, and were present with them for some time. It was a very special way to spend Christmas.
It was defiantly a different and very special Christmas.
Not being home for Christmas was a real challenge.  It was the first year away from my whole family on Christmas. Yes it was a challenge, but I survived Christmas without them. After facing that challenge, I know I am being blessed in so many other ways.

some pictures from our traveling with Roys group......

This man gave the group these plantains to say thank you.

Steven....Trying his best to speak to the kids. 

Part of the assembly line we had to carry rocks.

 The present lauren got from Steven. It is supposed to resemble what is around a lot of goat necks to                                                                                                  keep them out of the neighbors gardens....

A massive truck passing us while we were driving on a road not big enough for two cars, at the edge of a mountain. 

stud

stud

                                                     Our little community christmas tree

A Quick Update

I am really behind in updating. We have had a very eventful month, and it is only getting crazier. A little over three weeks ago we had a visitor come here, and for the first time it was someone we knew!! Our campus minister, Roy from EIU came for a few days. We were lucky enough to travel with him for a day. We were also very fortunate to be able to see some of Haiti's natural beauty. Roy was able to take us to see and to go in a beautiful waterfall in a town called Sodo

.

people laying in the water, walking, drinking rum, and there were some ladys naked taking a bath.

Jen and I beginning to walk in the waterfall. To the right, the group of boys insisted that they needed to guide us.

how much can fit on one truck?

I spy something that stands out......

A good portion of our town, from a mountain with thousands of trees that have been planted.

I went back to first grade the other day at the Jesus Mary school. Where I learned my abcs, and how to count to thirty. I went before school started so in hopes that if I was already there, I would cause less of a distraction. I was wrong. For the first hour, I would notice a head turned around staring at me for what felt like ten minutes.The teacher had about 40 kids in her class. It wasn't like a class in the states where the teacher has 25 kids, has them all engaged and has decent control over them.  There were kids paying attention, and behaving, but it seemed like a lot of them were leaving to go to the bathroom, fighting, yelling " He is eating crackers in class!!" pushing, not paying attention, all while the teacher continued with the class.

Roy came again this past week and brought 26 people from Eastern, Quincy, and Northwestern. I am working on that update....